The results of the "Emerging Scholar (Job Market Star)" selection for Ph.D. graduates at the 24th Annual Chinese Economics Conference were recently announced. After a rigorous process involving faculty recommendations, preliminary evaluation by the institute, and assessment by the selection committee, Yuan Bo, a Ph.D. candidate specializing in Regional Economics from our institute, was awarded this prestigious title. Yuan Bo was also invited to present their research findings during the conference.

The "Emerging Scholar (Job Market Star)" program for Ph.D. graduates is organized by the Chinese Economics Conference and has been held successfully for 23 sessions since its inception in 2001. Following the announcement of this year's selection process, 27 candidates were nominated by member institutions. After a comprehensive evaluation by the selection committee, nine Ph.D. candidates from seven universities, including Nankai University, Peking University, and Beijing Normal University, were ultimately awarded this prestigious recognition.

Yuan Bo is a Ph.D. candidate in Regional Economics from the 2021 cohort at our institute, under the supervision of Professor Liu Binglian. Yuan's primary research areas include regional coordinated development and sustainability, as well as digital economy and the governance of digital imbalances. To date, Yuan has published several papers as the first author in prestigious domestic and international journals, including *Journal of Regional Science*, *Applied Economics*, *Structural Change and Economic Dynamics*, *International Trade Issues*, and *Nankai Economic Studies*. Yuan was also awarded the 2024 National Doctoral Scholarship.

Yuan Bo was invited to present the paper *"From Agglomeration to Dispersion: How Does China's Noncapital Functions' Relief Affect Regional Development?"* at this year's conference. The study examines how government-led "dispersion policies" promote regional economic coordination through industrial relocation and population movement. The findings reveal that these policies have significantly benefited the underdeveloped areas surrounding Beijing, particularly in Hebei Province. The return of manufacturing enterprises and population has notably improved the economic conditions of the surrounding regions. This research highlights the effectiveness of the "strong government" model in driving regional coordination and provides valuable insights for other countries facing similar regional development challenges.